Phil “The Gift” Heath, 7-time Mr. Olympia Winner & American IFBB Pro League Professional Bodybuilder, Joins Zeigler University Guest Speaker Series
Phil "The Gift" Heath, 7-time Mr. Olympia Winner &
American IFBB Pro League Professional Bodybuilder, Joins Zeigler University Guest Speaker Series
The American IFBB Pro League professional bodybuilder and 7-time Mr. Olympia Winner joined the Zeigler University Guest Speaker Series last Thursday, September 26, 2024 at the Zeigler Honda Locker Room in Kalamazoo, Michigan. The multi-hyphenate athlete spoke to Team Zeigler on the importance of having a competitive spirit, taking care of your mental health, having the right coach, and overcoming adversity.
Kalamazoo, Mich (September 30, 2024) - The Zeigler University Guest Speaker Series welcomed 7-time Mr. Olympia winner and American IFBB Pro League professional bodybuilder, Phil Heath this past Thursday, September 26, 2024 at the Zeigler Honda Locker Room. Heath shared valuable lessons he's learned, such as the importance of teamwork, accountability, and compassion. He encouraged people to bet on themselves, find mentors who can empower them, and not allow fear to hold them back. He also provided insights into the competitive world of bodybuilding, including the strategies and challenges faced by top competitors.
Phil Heath grew up in Seattle as an only child with his mom and stepfather who were often busy working. Although his biological father wasn't too involved, he still credits all three of them with helping him develop a strong, competitive spirit. He talked about how this was his way of always trying to get the attention of his parents and prove his worth. To him his parent's love was conditional on acheivement.
Although his parents would actively engage with him and ask him "what did I learn today?" questions like "how are you feeling today?" never came up. As he got older he realized the importance of "self-auditing" and asking himself those questions for his own mental health.
"One thing about fear is it's real. It's as real as you make it, right? But when you give into it, you don't get to see your true version of self. So over the course of my life I realized that I have to be competitive … It has just felt really good to challenge myself. And I was always told to challenge yourself; [especially] when there's no one else in the room, but that's easier said than done."
As a young adult he actively worked towards becoming a basketball player and credits his high school varsity basketball coach Bobby Mike with pushing him through some limiting beliefs. He recalled a specific moment when his coach pulled him from the game and had him run lines while everybody else was doing layups during halftime. It goes without saying that this embarrassed him. However, he gets back in the game and gets a steal and dunks hard. As he looked over he saw his coach jumping up and down yelling: 'I knew you would do it.' His point here was that it's good to have coaches whether it's in basketball, sales or anything you want to perform at a high level.
"It's good to have good coaches right to remind you who the hell you are,
but it's also important that you look at [yourself] and ... say: I'm a champion. I'm a champion. I'm a champion."
After high school Heath earned a Division 1 scholarship to the University of Denver and remembers being asked by a reporter if he had NBA aspirations; and as a 17-year old answering with conviction that he didn't know about the NBA but that he knew he'd be a "pro at something" words he felt had true power. Heath went on to say that although he didn't have the career he wanted in basketball he still learned important lessons while going through the process, the main one being how to be a good teammate. He brought up a quote from the late Kobe Bryant on working as a team and helping your teammates out: "If something happens to me, I got to know that if this lion goes down, I got 12 other lions that can take my place."
Heath soon transitioned to bodybuilding after college, a sport he knew nothing about. During his illustrious career he faced challenges such as dealing with body dysmorphia, personal hardships, and the pressure of being a champion. He learned the importance of having a strong support system, managing his emotions, and finding gratitude in his achievements, rather than focusing on the negative.
During his first professional competition, he remembers how nervous he felt as he was posing and how people in the audience responded with laughter due to his serious focus gestures. He was feeling vulnerable and emotional, even to the point of being on the verge of tears. It wasn't until a lady in the audience, Margaret who was also a bodybuilder, told him "to smile because he was beautiful" did he relax into his poses and was able to perform better. He ended up winning that competition.
Soon after he ended up signing with Joe Weider, who was the godfather of bodybuilding and creator of Muscle and Fitness. Although this felt like a step in the right direction, a lot of personal things came up, namely the fact that he was not making any real money. However, even when he finally started making money, after a few wins, personal things still happened. Things like injuries, mental health problems, and other personal problems.
One moment that stood out during his speech was flying to visit his father who was diagnosed with amyloidosis, a rare blood disease, while he was preparing for Mr. Olympia in 2014. Although he had been given about a month to live, Heath was upset that his father had basically given up on life. During the visit he gave his father some tough love. "'Why aren't you eating?' They said, 'You gave up.' I thought you had drive… Everywhere I go, I'm your first son. How can you brag about me, but not fight for your own life? If you can't do it for the one, if you can't do it for the two, if you can't do it for the years you weren't there, do it now. Prove to me that you give a shit. And he didn't cry. He was one of those, but there was a tear in his eye."
After that he got on a plane and left, he got a call letting him know his dad was eating. He promised to fly back every week until he was better. Through all that he had to do appearances and work through so many things, including his father passing away the following spring. He consistently had to remind himself that it wasn't just about him. He had a team that was pouring into him that he needed to show up for with excellence. This is where gratitude and aligned action comes into play. Besides that, thanking yourself and your body for your own efforts goes a long way.
What he realized was that he was using "you're not good enough" self talk to win those seven trophies that represented the Mr. Olympia title. And although he achieved so much through anger and pain, living in this state was not sustainable. From that experience he learned to also give himself self-love and grace.
"Phil's message resonated so well with our teams across the group. I was struck by his down-to-earth demeanor and humble nature. Phil shared his winning mindset, principles of preparation, how to become a greater teammate and stressed the importance of caring for yourself!"
Mike Van Ryn, Vice President of Talent Development, Zeigler Auto Group
"Phil provided Team Zeigler with a blueprint on how to manage life's triumphs and defeats to make us better human beings."
Matt Snyder, Technician Recruitment & Development Coordinator, Zeigler Auto Group
"Phil was an exceptional guest speaker, delivering a highly motivating and honest message. His outlook on life is truly inspiring to everyone!
A couple takeaways that I had from his message "It is okay to start over on a career. It is not okay to not have discipline and a bad attitude",
"If you numb the bad, you numb the good."
Brent Warner, GSM, Plainwell Ford
"My favorite takeaway from Phils presentation today was his journey in overcoming adversity. Most of the time, his own negative thoughts
were his biggest challenge. Being a world class bodybuilder requires more than building your body; your mental and emotional health also
need to be swole and cut."
Jessica Wallace, Corporate Recruiter, Zeigler Auto Group
"Phil was an exceptional guest speaker, delivering a highly motivating and honest message. His outlook on life is truly inspiring to everyone! A couple takeaways that I had from his message; 'It is okay to start over on a career. It is not okay to not have discipline and a bad attitude'; and'If you numb the bad, you numb the good'."
Mallory Schierbeek, Internet Manager, Grandville
"My favorite quote from Phil Heath was 'Numbing the pain can also Numb the good times.' I talked to him about that today. I said I also use working out sometimes angry to try to get my aggressions out. He told me to look at myself in the mirror in the locker room and do it for my well-being and not out of anger and stress."
Frank Siebert, Fixed Operations Director, Zeigler Holland Campus
"Navigating our industry can feel like a whirlwind, much like the journey Phil Heath has taken in his career. Both require thick skin, clear goals, and an unwavering belief that nothing can hold you back. While roles may shift, the vision for success remains the same: it's all about mindset. Phil could have easily given the impression that success comes effortlessly, but he really emphasizes the daily grind and resilience. Just as he faced challenges head-on, we too must embrace the curveballs life throws our way. Even in retirement, Phil continues to strive for growth, reminding us that the journey never truly ends. Having a great coach, whether in fitness or sales, is crucial. Phil trusted his coaches to guide him, and we can take a page from that playbook. Our sales managers are here to push us in the right direction, and placing our trust in them can lead to incredible growth. So let's channel that spirit and support each other as we navigate our own paths to success!"
Rod Wortham, IT, Zeigler Auto Group
Heath's journey is a testament to the power of perseverance, self-belief, and the ability to overcome adversity. His story inspires others to pursue their dreams, embrace their competitive spirit, and find the champion within themselves. The seven-time Mr. Olympia also joined Zeigler's Driving Vision Podcast this week to continue this powerful conversation. Click here to listen to it now.
About Zeigler Automotive Group
Zeigler Automotive Group is one of the largest privately-owned dealer groups in the U.S. with 84 franchises across 41 locations in Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, and Michigan. Vehicle brands represented include all of the domestic and the majority of the imported manufacturers.
Besides its extensive automotive portfolio, the organization owns and operates Zeigler Motorsports, an 85,000-square-foot motorsports dealership and action park, offering 19 different powersports brands, plus its own onsite restaurant: Trak Houz Bar & Grill. Additionally, Zeigler Motorsports houses the Elevate Leadership & Team Building Academy, an executive training company.
The Kalamazoo-based dealer group also owns and operates Zeigler Pre-Owned of Chicago, three Byrider franchises, three finance companies, several insurance firms, and a leasing firm.
Founded in 1975, the organization employs over 2,500 people, ranking among the top 1% of automotive dealers in the nation with estimated annual sales of $2.2 billion for 2023.
The family-owned and operated company is well known for its commitment to both customer service and employee satisfaction. Zeigler is regularly recognized as one of the Best and Brightest Companies to Work for in the Nation, also earning similar accolades in Wisconsin, Chicago, and Michigan. Besides these prestigious accolades, Zeigler is also one of Glassdoor's 100 Best Places to Work in the U.S. for 2024, and among Glassdoor's top 10 U.S. companies for work-life balance.
Media Contact
Francis Mariela, Zeigler Auto Group
239-273-6976, letswork@francismariela.com